St. Landry democrat., 1887-08-20
THE CAUSE OF GOV. McENERY's
UNPOPULARITY.
Picayune.

Emery administration IN the majority of
the parishes of the State ought not TO
surprise any one familiar with its
methods. The Governor fails, for one
thing, to comprehend the fact that in
the use of official patronage for the
euds of personal government it is very
easy to 60 too far. 1T does not seem to
havc occurred to him that if is at all
necessary 10 consider the question 1T
the popularity "r unp"Dularity Of ,t4
appuinttes in the localities where ihty
ale to serve. He ought to haze re-
nlemhtrtd thAt a mau might he entirely
devoted to his interests without having
the requisite influence to promote them
in any legitimate way, and that such a
man would very likely undertake 10
show his gratitude 10y very irregular
and improper means.
The administration "hosscs" in the
various parishes are in many cases en-
trenrly unpopular men, and are a
source of weakness to Governor Nc
Emery in this canvass. Instead of
counting public favor Ivy impartial con-
duet and faithful discharge of bust
ness, they have formed long local
rings--close corporations in parochial
Notwithstanding everybody not com
mltted to the support of their chief
The inevitable consequence Is that the
masses of the people feel themselves
sighted and oppressed, and are airna-
ted from the administration. Take. for
instance, the case of WitkOwsky, in
West Carroll. That remarkable per
s0nage seems to have had the Whole
gnhernatorial authority in that parish
delegated to him. He, his family and
his immediate hpnchmen held all the
offices; and he carried their resigna
tions in his pocket. Evidently such a
man could only advance the Governors
interests by suppressng with a high
hand the opposition which his arhitra
riness aroused. We have seen what re-
suited from that foolish system OF
management in West Carroll. In other
parishes there have been hardly less
grounds for revolt, but the people pre-
fer to vindicate their rights "a citizens
and Democrats by regular party action,
and will do so unless driven to deSpera-
ton by intolerahle acts of tyranny.
The harefacrd attempt OF the mlnori-
~ to capture the mass meeting called
Ia organize the party in Acadia is an
Illustration of the tactics upon which
the Observation-Disclosures now rely. But
they have no other recourse. From its
nature a ring is always and necessarily
IN the minority. and can only win by
frand or violence or by both. l0u
can't shut the peonle out and then
connt upon their suffrage We do not
know whether Governor McEnery fully
realizes the extent of his own unp"pu-
laritv and the intensity of the opposi
ton which has been excited by the
methods of Ills favorites; but we can
assure him that every effort on the
part Of his appOintees to control the
local organizations Of the party with
ont the consent of the majority will
react to his disadvantage.
In connection with this subject we
rould invite his Eyerlieney's attention
to the dissatisfaction now existing in
Ouachita perish and to its cause. In
the West Monroe Union of the 4th and
in the Monroe Telegraph of the 9th
inst. we find editorials and commnnica-
tinns emphaticalIv denndncing the at
tempt to control the party in the parish
hy the use Of negro votes. "What
have we snen in the last few years 7"
asks the Telegraph. "What sn"cfoc|r
has been presented 70 the world? The
mass meetings of the Democratic party
hacked with negroes, who did the bid
ding of few men, We have had. as
we formerly had, n few men who con
troll the politics of the parish through
their power and Influence over the ne
grnes. There are men in this parish
whose pducation. abilities and charar-
ter give them M right to any Influence
Who are nov leading politicians safely
w virtue OF their negro power,
II is certain that we haH bet
ter have no nominations It all than To
have them mahe by packed negro mass
meetings. Bur If We are tn have n"mI-
nations. let il hp understood now that
the mairlirv Of white men in this uHr
iSh will make trouble if these nominal
tions are made Ivy negro mass meetings
No people with honor and srlfrespnrt
will stand the inSnencp and audactv
of the negro herderS who attempt tn he
the dictatars of our parish"
We will not in this article cite other
illustrations of the rule that personal
government inevitably creates OPPOSE
ton and alitnates the majority. Let
those who profess snch painful anxiety
for party harmony consider who is res
pnnsihle for the Dissatisfaction and dis
union within the Louisiana D"moc, acy
to-day. If" says the Bn~Sier Banner.
in recent issue, If six years of such
leadership has produced snch strife and
confusion and bad blood in the party,
will not four years more of it result in
party disintegratlnn and defeat 7"